Shuttle feed for presses



Oa. 17, 1939. T. NORTON 2,116,543

SHUTTLE FEED FOR PRESSES ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 17, 1939.

1'. NoRroN 2,176,543

SHUTTLE FEED FOR PRESSES Filed Nov. 19, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q w 00 r)fr $1 k INVENTOR. 776050 re /Va rior?.

ATTORNEYS Odi. 17, 1939. T, NQRTON 2,176,543

SHUTTLE FEED FOR PRESSES Filed Nov. 19, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l -g c/ 460 /0 IN VENTOR. 72604707@ /Vo' rfa,

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 17, 1939. T. NORTON 2,116,543

SHUTTLE FEED FOR PRESSES Filed Nov. 19, 1936 4 Sheets-Shet 4 l N VENTOR. Teaiof'e /Yorifw,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHUTTLE FEEDl FORPRESSES Application November 19, 1936, Serial No. 111,657

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an attachment primarily designed for use inconnection with die presses and is particularly concerned with a feedmechanism for supplying articles to the die press in a rapid and orderlymanner.

While it will become readily apparent from the following specificationthat the present invention will find broad and practical utility in manyand various different fields, the aparatus is primarily designed for usein connection with a press for performing operations upon inner trimpanels during various steps in the course of their manufacture.

While the apparatus of the present invention is susceptible of use onmany and different kinds of presses, it is primarily designed for use inconnection with a press having a vertically movable ram which carries adie, which die is adapted to cooperate with a plane surfaced bed inorder to perform the operation required. The present inventioncontemplates the provision of a bed for a press of this general type,which bed is readily movable or shiftable with respect to the press as awhole in order that articles to be operated upon may be convenientlymounted upon the bed and after being so mounted, the bed may be bodilyshifted into position beneath `the ram of the press.

The present invention contemplates the provision of novel andparticularly effective and satisfactory means for mounting the bedportion of a press of this type in order that the bed as a whole mayeasily be moved from operative position beneath the die into aninoperative position o adjacent the die.

Still further the present invention contemplates the provision of a bedfor a press of this type, which is not only reciprocably mounted butwhich bed has an area substantially twice that of the ram of the pressin order that an article to be operated upon by the press may beconveniently mounted upon the bed and then shifted into position beneaththe die of the press. While the ram of the press descends to operateupon the article thus positioned within the press, an additional articlemay be positioned upon the exposed half of the bed of the press, thusmaking possible extremely rapid operation of the apparatus as a whole.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a feed mechanism ofthe general type described above, which may be utilized as one unit inan assembly line in which a plurality of operations are successivelyperformed upon a series of articles being manufactured. In suchinstallations as this, it is essential that the operation of the pressbe controlled synchronously with respect to the remainder of the unitsin the assembly line and to achieve this end, the present inventioncontemplates the provision of novel, simple, and particularly improvedhydraulic means for causing not only operation of the press proper butshifting of the bed thereof, which movements are effected synchronouslywith the remainder of the units in the assembly line in which the pressis disposed.

Still further the present invention contemplates the provision of aconstruction of this generc type in which an extremely simple andsatisfactory mounting for the shiftable bed portion of the press isprovided, in order that this bed portion may be conveniently and rapidlyshifted and yet at the same time provide an eX- ceptionally strong andrigid support for the work being operated upon by the vertically movabledie of the press.

Still further it is an object of the present invention to provide noveland effective means whereby the movement of the bed of the press may beeither controlled synchronously with the units in the assembly line withwhich it is associated or may be independently manually actuated.

Still another object of the present invention consists in the provisionof means for mounting a reciprocable bed of the type outlined above suchthat its vertical position and its position Within the press isaccurately controlled at all times.

Many other and further objects, advantages, and features of the presentinvention will become clearly apparent from the following specilicationwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming apart thereof.

In the drawings, f

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a blanking presswith the improved feed mechanism mounted in cooperative relationtherewith; 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 2-2of Fig. 1, illustrating the manner in which the shiftable bed of thepress is mounted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary planV view taken substantially on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1, illustrating in detail the support for the shiftablebed of the press;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line4-4 of Fig. 3, illustrating in detail the actuating mechanism foreffecting shifting movements of the bed of the press;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3, illustrating in detail the rack mechanism utilized foractuating the bed;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe line 6-6 of Fig. 3, illustrating in detail one of the cylinders foreffecting vertical movement of the ram of the press, and

Fig. 7 is a more or less diagrammatic plan View of one form of controlmechanism for effecting synchronous and timed operation of the improvedmechanism.

It will become readily apparent from the following detailed descriptionthat the improved shuttle feed mechanism herein described is susceptibleof use upon many and various different kinds of presses and theparticular form of press illustrated in the accompanying drawings anddescribed below is merely illustrative of Yone specific type of diepress which has been found particularly adaptable for use in connectionwith the present invention.

This press includes a base frame IIl which adjacent the corners thereofserves to support a plurality of hydraulic cylinders I I. Extendingupwardly from each of the corners of the base frame Ill are cylindricalposts I2, to the upper extremities of which is bolted `a stationary ramI3 by means of nuts Ill. It will be apparent that the posts I2 arerigidly secured to the base I0 and consequently the position of the r-amI3 is xed with respect to the base I5. The posts I2 serve to providemeans for vertically guiding a bed frame I5 for the press, which ispreferably constructed of a casting to provide an extremely strong andrigid structure, which casting has apertures adjacent the cornersthereof adapted to receive and slide upon the posts I2.

'Ihe cylinders II each has a piston I8 therein, the outer end of eachpiston being adapted to abut against a suitable projection I9 formedupon the under surface of the bed frame of the press. Fluid is suppliedto the cylinder II by means of a conduit 20, the supply of this fluidbeing controlled by the apparatus illustrated diagrammatically in Figure'7 and described in detail below.

It will be seen that as iiuid is simultaneously introduced into thecylinders I I, this uid will effect an upward movement of the bed frameI5 of the press and finally effect a positive engagement of the bed ofthe press with the stationary ram I 3. As is conventional inconstructions of this general character, the cylinder is provided with apacking gland, including a collar 22, secured in position by means of aseries of cap screws 23 and serving to retain in position a body ofpacking 2d in order to effectively seal the piston and cylinder andpreclude the vescape of fluid.

All of the improved mechanism of the present invention is rigidlymounted with respect to this vertically movable bed frame of the pressand is adapted to move vertically therewith when uid is introduced intothe cylinders II. The bed frame `of the press has on each of theopposite sides thereof a pair of outwardly extending channel members 25,which are supported in horizontal position by means of diagonallydownwardly extending bases 25 welded thereto and welded to the bedsupporting frame I5. These outwardly extending channel member have theirouter ends interconnected by means of a channel member 28 to provide arelatively strong substantially rectangular frame work approximately thesame size as the bed of the press on each of two opposite sides of thepress. In addition to the channel members 25, this frame may includesimilar steel braces 3B of channel section disposed inwardly of theframe members 25 and substantially parallel thereto. The inner ends ofthese braces may be firmly secured in position upon the bed frame of thepress and the outer ends may be welded to the channel member 28 at thepoints 3 I.

These brace members 3!) have at suitable intervals therealong freelyrotatable rollers 33 secured thereto by means of bolts 54. These rollers33 are preferably so constructed and arranged that the upper peripheralsurfaces thereof all lie in substantially the same plane and also lie insubstantially the same plane as the upper surface of the bed supportingframe I5 which is disposed beneath the ram I3 of the press.

A slidable steel bed 59, having an area substantially twice that of theram and bed supporting frame of the press, is carried by the supportingframe construction described above and is adapted for movement in ahorizontal plane, which movement is facilitated by means of the rollers33 upon which this bed rests. Suitable guide members 42 are secured tothe cuter surfaces of the channel members 25 by means of bolts @33,which guide members each have horizontally extending recesses or groovesl therein adapted to receive the lateral edges of the bed 55 and guidethe same during horizontal movement, as hereinafter described in detail.These guide members also serve to preclude movement of the bed iiiupwardly away from the bed supporting frame of the press.

In order to further guide the bed l2 during horizontal movement, thisbed plate has a metal strip 45 secured rigidly to the under sidethereof, which strip is substantially trapezoidal in cross section andisadapted to be received within a dovetail recess formed in the bedsupporting frame of the press. This construction likewise servestojguide the bed plate il@ vduring horizontal movement and virtuallyprecludes vertical movement of the bed plate with respect to the bedsupporting frame. The strip 46 has the under surface thereof preformedto provide a series of teeth constituting a rack 48, which, as willherenafter be clearly seen, is utilized to effect longitudinal movementof the bed plate with respect to the press.

In order to additionally guide the bed plate 4I) during its horizontalmovement, a base member 58 has its inner end secured to the bedsupporting frame I5 and its outer end rigidly secured to the channelmember 28 and extends throughout the length of each of the frames in aposition substantially uniformly spaced between the frame members 25.This member 55 serves to support a plurality of rollers 5I rotatableupon vertical axes, which rollers have frusto conical surfaces and areadapted to engage the lateral sides of the dovetail strip A6, It will bereadily appreciated that these rollers 5I serve, in combination with themeans described in detail above, to facilitate movement of the bed plate46 in a predetermined plane and to preclude displacement of the bedplate from such plane.

While many and various suitable means may be provided for effectingpositive longitudinal movement of the bed plate 45 with respect to thebed of the press, the present invention contem- Jil) plates particularlynovel and effective means for accomplishing this end.

A hydraulic cylinder 60 is rigidly bolted to the side of the bed frameI5 by means of suitable integrally formed brackets GI. Means such as areconventional in constructions of this general kind are provided forintroducing fluid to either end of the cylinder, as may be desired, andat the same time bleeding uid from the opposite end of the cylinder asit is discharged therefrom. The piston within the cylinder S0 has apiston rod 63 rigidly secured thereto, which passes outwardly from thecylinder through a conventional packing joint Ell. This piston rod hasrigidly connected thereto a rack member 65 having a plurality of teethon the upper surface thereof and which is mounted for reciprocablemovement upon a suitable table or shelf S5 carried by means of a bracket6l, which bracket may be directly secured to the bed frame I5 of thepress. A horizontal shaft 'I0 is journaled for rotation in suitablebearings 1I carried by the bed frame of the press and this shaft 'I0 hassecured at its outer end a spur gear 'I2 which is adapted to mesh withthe rack 65. This shaft, at its inner end, has rigidly secured thereto aspur gear I5 which is of considerably larger diameter than the gear I2and which is adapted to mesh with the rack 46 which, as has beenexplained above, is rigidly secured to the under side of the bed plate40.

From the construction described above, it will be readily apparent thatthe introduction of fluid into the cylinder 60 will cause a movement ofthe piston therein and a consequent similar movement of the piston rod63 and rod E5. Movement of this rack past the spur gear 'I2 willinherently produce a rotation of the shaft 10 and consequent rotation ofthe gear 15, which, as has been explained above, is secured to the innerend of the shaft. Inasmuch as the gear 75 is in mesh with the rack 46,it will be clear Vthat rotation of the gear 'I5 will cause a horizontalmovement of the bed plate 4I) with respect to the press, and due to thefact that the gear 'I2 is considerably smaller than the gear 15, thismovement will be of substantially greater magnitude than the movement ofthe piston rod 65.

It will be readily understood that these gear sizes may be proportionedso that as the piston within the cylinder 6D moves throughout the entirelength of its stroke, it will serve to effect a movement of the bedplate 4@ throughout a predetermined range such as may be desired. Inorder to accurately control the position of the bed plate at each of itsextremes of movement, it has been found particularly desirable toinstall stop members which may consist of bolts 8E! passing throughbrackets 8l secured to the transversely extending channel frame member23 in substantially the central portion thereof. It will be readilyappreciated that these bolts may be conveniently adjusted tol engage themarginal edge of the bed plate 49' and limit movement thereof within apredetermined range.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that a suitable die maybe carried by the stationary ram I3 of the press and that an article tobe operated upon by said die may be placed upon the exposed half of thebed plate 40. Fluid may then be supplied to the cylinder 69, causing ahorizontal movement of the bed plate from one extreme position to theother, in such a manner that the half thereof on which the article isdisposed will move inwardly underneath the ram of the press and theopposite half of the bed plate will be moved out from underneath the ramof the press and be exposed on the opposite side. Fluid pressure maythen be supplied to the cylinders II, causing an upward movement of theentire bed frame work and consequent engagement of the die carried bythe ram with the work carried by the movable bed plate 40. While thisoperation is taking place, a second article, adapted for similartreatment, may be placed upon the half of the bed plate which isexposed, and upon the completion of the stroke of the press, the bedplate may be again shifted and the article which has been operated maybe removed from the exposed portion of the bed plate and a new untreatedarticle installed thereon while the press acts upon the article carriedby the opposite half of the bed plate.

While it will be readily appreciated from the foregoing that the supplyof fluid to the various cylinders disclosed in Figures l to 6 of thedrawings may be supplied thereto by any suitable manually controlledmeans, it has been found particularly desirable to utilize automaticcontrols for accomplishing this end.

One form of fluid distribution system particularly adaptable forcontrolling apparatus of this general character is illustrated in moreor less diagrammatic form in Figure 7 of the drawings. In thisdiagrammatic showing, the cylinder 60, which eifects transverse movementof the bed plate 4G, is shown toward the left hand side of the sheet.The piston within this cylinder serves to operate a member 19, which hascam surfaces 8l at each of its opposite ends, which cams are adapted toengage and operate valves 82 in the manner hereinafter described indetail. In the disclosure of this diagrammatic View, it will beunderstood that the double lined conduits shown are of sufiicientcross-sectional strength to carry hydraulic fluid, such for example asoil, to the various cylinders, in order to effect actuation of theapparatus as a whole, while the single lines represent pilot conduitswhich may be extremely small in cross section but which serve to carrysufficient fluid to operate the various valves and provide means forcontrolling the apparatus generally.

The hydraulic fluid to the apparatus is supplied from a tank 85 by meansof a conventional pump structure 86. The apparatus for controlling theoperation of the press includes starting valves 88 and 89, respectively,which may be actuated manually by operating handles 9!) and 3| or bymeans of pilot pressure as hereinafter described.

The apparatus operates substantially as follows:

It may be assumed for purposes of illustration that the bed plate of thepress is in the extreme left hand position, and it will therefore beseen that the valve 32 is depressed by means of the cam 8l, thusretaining thisl valve in open position. In order to start the apparatus,the lever 9E) is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow to shiftthe valve 88 to a position where pilot pressure will be supplied throughthe pilot conduits and 96 toa four-way valve S'I controlling supply offluid under pressure to the cylinder 65. It Will be seen that this fluidunder pressure will pass from the pump 86, through a conduit 98, into aconduit 99, and to a feed control valve lili). This feed control valveI0!) serves not only to protect but to control the supply of fluidpassing from the conduit 99 into a conduit IUI, which conducts the fluidto a reducing valve |02, which serves to protect the actuating cylinder6@ from excessive pressure during the pressing stroke. The valves lilland |62 may be accurately adjusted to control the rate and pressure atwhich fluid is supplied to the cylinder, thus accurately controlling therate of movementl and the rate of movement of the work table, and alsothe pressure which is supplied to the cylinder 60.

As has been explained above, the pilot pressure transmitted through theconduit 96 hasl shifted the valve 97| to a position where fluid fed intothis valve through a conduit |03 from the reducing Valve |132 will bedirected through a 'conduit |05 into the left hand end of the cylinder6U, consequently causing a movement of the piston therein from left toright, as viewed in the drawings. The rate of this movement, as has beenexplained above, may accurately be controlled by the valves |02 andlili).

It of course will be understood that while the parts were in theirinitial position, an article to be operated upon by the press would beplaced upon the exposed portions of the movable bed 46 and when thisarticle was properly seated in position, the handle 9B would be manuallymoved in order to feed the article so positioned in underneath thestationary ram of the press. When the bed 40 of the press has reachedits predetermined position beneath the ram of the press, the pistonwithin the cylinder G will be moved to substantially its extreme righthand position of movement and the cam surface Sil will engage the righthand valve 82, opening this Valve, which will permit fluid from theconduit 98 to pass through the four-way valve |61, conduit |08, conduit|09, four-way valve Mil, and conduit into the cylinders l, which serve,in cooperation with the pistons i8, to effect upward movement of theentire bed framework of the press, to force the work into engagementwith the die carried by the stationary ram, as has been explained indetail above.

A valve l l 2 is in cormnunication with the conduit lll, which serves topermit bleeding of the hydraulic fluid from the cylinders when apredetermined maximum pressure has been obtained, and, as isconventional in constructions of this kind, this valve may be accuratelyadjusted in accordance with the predetermined work resistance desired.Also in communication with the valve H2, by means of the pilot conduit lI3, is a four-way valve Htl, which serves upon attainment ofpredetermined maximum pressure to supply fluid to a time delay valve H5,starting the ime delay in operation. After a predetermined interval oftime has elapsed in accordance with the setting of the time delay M5,fluid transmitted to the time delay through a conduit il@ will be passedthrough the time delay valve to a pilot conduit |51 to a pilot Valve|58. This pilot valve i8 is adjusted in such a position that fluid mayflow therethrough to a pilot conduit lli), which conducts this fluid tothe four-way valve Hf! to actuate the same. It will therefore be clearthat after the bed of the press has been retained in engagement with theram under predetermined pressure for a predetermined time interval, thefour-way valve lli! will be shifted, allowing the bed of the press todescend by gravity and the fluid therefrom to be bled backwardly throughthe conduit l l, valve iii, into a conduit |29, through a valve |2l, andinto the tank 85. Simultaneously, when the four-way valve l il isshifted by the pilot pressure supplied through the conduit |59, asdescribed above, the pump delivery is also directed to the tank throughthe valve I2|. Also, as soon as the fluid starts bleeding from thecylinders the pressure is automatically removed from the four-way valve9, allowing a spring within this valve to shift it, so that the pilotpressure is directed through a conduit |23 to the time delay valve 5,resetting it to its original position.

When the pistons |8 Within the cylinders reach their extreme downwardposition of movement, a flipper dog |24 engages a star Wheel |25 andshifts the position of the pilot valve H8, so that the left handstarting valve 38 is now ineffective, but pilot pressure is availablethrough a conduit |36 to the right hand starting valve 89.

During the operation of the press, an article may be loaded upon theexposed portion of the movable bed thereof while the press is actingupon the article which has been placed upon the opposite half of thebed, in order that as the mechanism starts its 2nd portion of its cycleof movement, a new article will be disposed in position to be operatedupon when the apparatus operates.

As pilot pressure is supplied to the valve S9, as described above, thisvalve will be swung to a position where pilot pressure will betransmitted through a conduit |33 to the valve Sl, shifting the positionof this valve so that hydraulic iiuid from the pump $38 will be suppliedto the right hand end of the cylinder G@ and the movable bed of thepress will be shifted in the opposite direction, the parts functioningin substantially the same manner as has been described above.

It will be readily understood that while but one specific embodiment ofthe present invention has been described in detail, many other andfurther embodiments thereof will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art.

What is claimed is:

l. A press including in combination a stationary die carrying member, aframework adapted for movement toward said die carrying member, atransversely shiftable work supporting bed mounted upon said framework,and hydraulic means for shifting said bed relative to said framework.

2. A shuttle feed for presses including a bed plate, said bed platehaving an area substantially twice that of the area of said press, meansfor shifting said bed plate laterally to dispose either half or theother thereof within` the press, whereby an article to be operated uponby said press may be mounted upon said bed plate during a pressingoperation.

3. A press including in combination, a bed framework, a laterallyshiftab-le bed plate carried upon said bed framework and having an areasubstantially twice that of the press, whereby an article to be operatedupon said press may be mounted upon said bed plate during a pressingoperation.

4. A press including in combination, a base frame, a plurality-of postsextending upwardly from said base frame` a stationary ram rigidlymounted upon said posts, a bed frame movably mounted on said posts andadapted for movement toward said stationary ram, hydraulic means formoving said bed frame toward said ram, and a laterally shiftable bedplate for moving a workpiece into and out of the press carried by saidbed frame and movable toward said ram therewith.

5. A press including in combination, a base frame, a plurality of postsextending upwardly from said base frame, a stationary ram rigidlymounted upon said posts, a bed frame movably mounted on said posts andadapted for movement toward said stationary ram, hydraulic means formoving said bed frame toward said ram, a laterally shiftable bed platefor supporting a workpiece to be operated on carried by said bed frameand movable therewith toward and from said ram, and hydraulic means forshifting said bed plate laterally to move said workpiece into and out ofthe press.

6. In a press, a bed framework, a bed plate carried thereby, said bedframework having' a dovetailed recess therein, a dovetailed membercarried by said bed plate and received within said dovetailed recess, aseries of teeth on said dovetailed member and al gear engageable withsaid teeth serving to effect shifting movement of said bed plate withrespect to said bed frame.

7. In a press, a bed framework, a bed plate carried thereby, said bedframework having a dovetailed recess therein, a dovetailed membercarried by said bed plate and received within said dovetailed recess, aseries of tee-th on said dovetailed member, a gear engageable with saidteeth serving to eifect shifting movement of said bed plate with respectto said bed frame, and hydraulic means for effecting rotatio-n of saidgear.

8. In a press having a stationary ram and a work supporting bed adaptedfor movement into engagement with said ram, a laterally shiftable worksupporting member slidably mounted for movement on said bed, a rackcarried by said member, a shaft journalled for rotation in said bed, agear on said shaft meshing with said rack whereby rotation of said shaftserves to shift said work supporting member laterally with respect tosaid bed, and hydraulic means for effecting rotation of said shaft.

9. In a press having a stationary ram and a work supporting bed adaptedfor movement into engagement with said ram, a laterally shiftable Worksupporting member slidably mounted for movement on said bed, a rackcarried by said member, a shaft journalled for rotation in said bed, agear on said shaft meshing with said rack whereby rotation of said shaftserves to shift said work supporting member laterally with respect tosaid bed, a gear on the opposite end of said shaft, a rack slidablymounted in said bed meshing with said last mentioned gear, and ahydraulic operator for reciprocating said last mentioned rack to producerotation of said shaft.

l0. In a press having a stationary ram and a work supporting' bedadapted for movement into engagement with said ram, a laterallyshiftable work supporting member slidably mounted for movement on saidbed, a rack carried by said member, a shaft journalled for rotation insaid bed, a gear on said shaft meshing with said rack whereby rotationof said shaft serves to shift said work supporting member laterally withrespect to said bed, a gear on the opposite end of said shaft, a rackslidably mounted in said bed meshing with said last mentioned gear, anda hydraulic operator for reciprocating said last mentioned rack toproduce rotation of said shaft, said last mentioned gear beingsubstantially smaller than said rst mentioned gear whereby apredetermined movement of said last mentioned rack will produce asubstantially greater movement of said Work supporting member'.

1l. In a press having a bed frame, a work supporting plate carried bysaid bed frame, said plate being slidably mounted with respect to saidsupporting bed, a hydraulic cylinder for moving said plate with respectto said bed, valves for controlling the supply of uid to said hydrauliccylinder and means carried by said plate serving to actuate said valves.

THEODORE NORTON.

